Firefighter injured on job

A Bailey Switch firefighter sustained minor injuries while on duty Monday night fighting a fire in the Parrot Branch community.

According to Fire Chief Willy Smith, Bailey Switch Fire Department responded to an abandoned trailer fire on Hwy 3438 around 7:45 p.m. The trailer, Smith said, was surrounded by trash and other debris. Firefighter Langdon Gambrel was apparently assisting another firefighter with the water hose when it became entangled in the debris. In the process of detangling the hose, Smith said Gambrel tripped on some debris, fell and bumped his head.

“He didn’t want to go,” said Chief Smith. “He said he was fine, but I insisted he be taken to the hospital to be checked out.”

Chief Smith said Gambrel was treated and released from the hospital that same evening.

The single-wide trailer was unoccupied. Firefighters were on scene for almost two hours battling the blaze.